172 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



by torch-light. Two Indians generally enter a canoe, and 

 while one paddles it noiselessly along, the other holds 

 forth the light which attracts the attention of the fish, 

 and causes them to approach their enemy who pierces 

 them with the cruel spear. This mode of taking the 

 salmon is to be deprecated; but the savage must live/ 

 and has no other means for catching them.' " 



" The Yankee is right there," said the Captain ; " constant 

 spearing will destroy any river, for there is nothing the 

 salmon have such a fear and horror of as the taste or smell 

 of blood. You remember, Parson, when we were at the 

 Mingan, and that one of our party went out spearing on 

 one single night, that the run of the fish ceased, and with 

 it our sport for the season." 



66 1 remember it well," replied the Priest, " and there 

 are few things about which fishermen ought to be more 

 careful, than allowing their servants to clean the fish they 

 have killed in the stream, or to throw their offal into it, 

 for it is a fact well known, that the slightest tinge of 

 blood, or the smallest portion of intestines, will alarm a 

 whole shoal of salmon, and send them running back in 

 terror to the sea. The servants of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company are well aware of this, and at all their fishing 

 stations you will find that the place at which they clean 

 the fish is at some distance from the river, and that they 

 invariably dig a hole in which they deposit scrupulously 

 all the offal. 



